Bashkir or Bashkirsky Pony Breed

Country of Origin Volga and Urals

The breed was formed in the mountain and steppe zone adjacent to the Volga and the Urals. The Bashkir was used as a draft and utility horse and as a producer of milk and meat. The Bashkir is a small, wide-bodied and bony horse. It has a massive head and a short and fleshy neck. The withers are low, the back erect and broad, the croup nicely rounded, the ribs long and well sprung, the chest broad and deep and the legs short and bony. The mane and tail are thick. Some of the Bashkir's have curly hair. It has been suggested that the North American Curly Horse may have originated from Lokai bred horses brought over years ago, would be plausible. However, the only time in history that horses were brought to North America from that region, recorded in history, was well after Curly Horses were first documented in North and South America. So the mystery remains, and the conjecture continues.

The Bashkir has a high work endurance. The mares' average milk yield is 1500 kg of marketable milk. The best mares produce 2700 kg in 7-8 months of lactation.

The Bashkir is being improved by pure breeding and by crossing with the Russian Heavy Draft. Experimentally, the Bashkir was crossed with Kazakh and Yakut horses. The Bashkir stock is mainly concentrated at Ufa stud, the leading center for the breed.

Sources:
Permission given by my dear friend, Cowboy Frank to use his breeds section.
Oklahoma State University list of livestock breeds